September 22, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS: (Friday)
The shipper in Keokuk, Iowa got me loaded by 7:30 am and the loads weight according to my paperwork was 16,500 lbs, making me and the load weigh about 50, 000 lbs. Around 8 AM I was off across Hwy 136 eastward through much more farmland(would take Kansas over this any day!). After enough back roads I got to I-55 north which I took. About 1:30 I got to one of the many branches of my favorite truck stop, "Just A Truckstop", in Lake Station, Indiana off of I-94. All that farmland land is behind me and now "green" lays ahead most the way to Detroit. Ate at the truckstop and then it was off again. Took I-94 east into Michigan and drove straight to our Detroit terminal. Was told to drop trailer in our yard. Parked tractor and bedded in for the night as I was tired.

SECOND 5 YEARS: (Miracles-I still can't believe it)
A truly honest mistake nearly cost me dearly and to this day I don't know how I got away with it. I had been dispatched to pick up a load in Concord, New Hampshire which, when I got there , was canceled. Called dispatch and they told me to find a place to park for the night-it was just early afternoon. South of Concord I found an interesting truck stop where I parked the truck and went in and looked around. Nice place!! Later in the day I was outside my truck, having logged "out of duty" in my logbook, talking to another driver who was familiar with this spot. It was past dinner time so we wondered in for something to eat. We got out food, which was good and the service was great. Our waitress was really funny and the other waitress was funny also. Our waitress may have had some mental problems as she was too free with her words(not "dirty" ones) and thoughts while being funny. After a fun evening, I bunked in with no messages on my satellite box. Next morning I was deadheaded(sent with empty trailer) to Waterbury, Connecticut to pick up a load. I got up and got something to eat. Then headed through Massachusetts with no problems. Got into Connecticut where I had to enter a scale house. The inspectors were out in full force. I was in no hurry and got the sign that diverted me to the scales and inspection area. No big deal as I thought that I was legal. I had to wait a good 20 minutes before an officer asked to see my paperwork and logbook. While a couple inspectors looked around my truck my logbook was being examined-didn't have paperwork as I was empty. He handed me back my logbook and told me to have a good day. I was off. I reached Hartford when my satellite box beeped and the light came on. I pulled over to a phone and called in. They had canceled the Waterbury load and given me a New Haven (Connecticut) load. No problem. Since I was stopped, I decided to get my logbook caught up. I got it out and to my horror-yes horror-I found out that I hadn't updated it since I shut down yesterday in New Hampshire. I was driving through the most strict states for obeying the laws with my logbook showing me off duty in NH. Don't know how I got away with it!!!